Germany: GDL union signs federal framework agreement for rail freight train drivers

Wages in line with the Deutsche Bahn’s.  “On March 16th, the GDL adopted with private freight rail companies, without a single strike, the federal framework agreement for train drivers (BURA-LfTV)” the corporatist union rejoiced in a communiqué.  The union should be satisfied, because the agreement signed by 3 private rail freight companies (Assoft-Railmer, MEV Eisenbahnverkehrsgesellschaft and SBB Cargo Deutschland) includes all its claims.  In the future, the basic pay for about 550 train drivers employed in rail freight will be 2% higher than that paid by the Deutsche Bahn (DB).  It will amount to €2,341-€2,831 a month depending on professional experience.  Meantime, the workweek will go from 40 to 39 hours.  Bonuses for night work, work on Sundays or holidays will be in line with the DB’s scales.  The framework agreement also provide, as the GDL hoped, for uniform training standards and better care for drivers subject to trauma after a severe accident.  Saying that the agreement was “decent,” a spokesman for SBB Cargo Deutschland, German subsidiary of the SBB Swiss rail company, said that it now had to be materialized in a company agreement.  This agreement will help avoid “competition over train drivers” the GDL union said, asking for the signature of a sectoral collective agreement for all 26,000 train drivers in Germany (see our dispatch No.  110154).
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s or holidays will be in line with the DB’s scales. The framework agreement also provide, as the GDL hoped, for uniform training standards and better care for drivers subject to trauma after a severe accident. Saying that the agreement was “decent,” a spokesman for SBB Cargo Deutschland, German subsidiary of the SBB Swiss rail company, said that it now had to be materialized in a company agreement. This agreement will help avoid “competition over train drivers” the GDL union said, asking for

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